75.3

The big man answered suspiciously, "Yes, so what?"

"Jin Lu is the strongest demon master of Demon Mountain. Him being taken captive, did that feel like a slap on the face?" Ji Yunhe watched the big man's face turn green, then turned her head to speak to Siyu.

"What's more, even Valley Master Lin was also directly taken from your camp…

This joint expedition to the north lost its commander before a battle even started. If word gets out, you demon masters will look truly ridiculous." The crowd was now even angrier after hearing what she said. Many people unsheathed their swords.

Changyi's eyes flashed and he summoned the remnants of demonic energy inside his body. The surrounding snowflakes in the air suddenly stopped and turned into sharp, icy blades, pointing to the crowd from all sides.

"Why so angry?" Ji Yunhe remained smiling in the standoff.

"The leader captured, the face slapped, and all demon masters lost their dignity…

Wasn't this already predestined? Decades ago when the Grand Master developed the frost poison, established the Grand Master's house, and set up the four quarters to keep you imprisoned, you were already destined to end up in today's defeat." The crowd fell silent. Ji Yunhe continued to laugh.

"Are you angry at the north for being too powerful, or are you angry at your own incompetence and mediocrity?" She raised her voice so the people a hundred meters away could hear.

"A hundred years ago, the Grand Master's house did not exist, the four quarters weren't there, and the demon master tribe was not enslaved and imprisoned. Look at yourselves now."

Ji Yunhe straightened her back and continued, "I am also a demon master, I used to be the Master Warden of the Demon Valley. I know how reluctant and difficult it is for you all to risk your lives and come to this bitter cold land! But who told you to come? And for whom are you fighting? Where are your swords pointing? And why are you spilling your blood? Can anyone sober up and take a good look?"

"Who took away our spirit? Who trapped us in a cage? And who intimidated, threatened and tamed us?"

Ji Yunhe reached out and grabbed an icy blade frozen in the air by Changyi. It cut her skin and her blood fell. She fiercely threw the ice blade to the ground.

"I wield my blade at the one outside the cage, not those who are also suffering under their oppression!"

Changyi gazed at her from the side and his hand loosened. The snowstorm resumed, falling down around him and onto everyone's faces. The crowd stirred. Ji Yunhe looked at Siyu.

"We took Lin Haoqing not to fight, but to not fight."

"We have no choice." Siyu walked her horse closer to Ji Yunhe.

"Princess Shunde will taint all the water sources with the frost poison if we don't take you to her." Ji Yunhe froze.

"She does not necessarily want to kill the demon masters here, but if there are newborn children with a double pulse, how are you going to save them all?" Ji Yunhe was silent for a moment.

"I don't know. But because of that, I will never give in to her. She can threaten you to come after me today, then threaten you to go after someone else tomorrow. Her desires and requests will never end."

Several people came out of the army and walked past Siyu…

"I would like to join the north."

"I also want to join the north..."

First a couple, then dozens, then hundreds…

Endless numbers of demon masters came out of the army and marched to the growing crowd behind Ji Yunhe and Changyi. No one from their own side attempted to stop them.

Ji Yunhe looked at them through the heavy snow and howling wind, and smiled. She turned to Changyi. He was quietly staring at her, his eyes reflecting only her smile.

"Changyi..." she called out softly. The wind blew at her cloak, and it fluttered in the wind like wings.

Her ears could no longer hear anything, not even her own voice. Changyi, this was the last thing I could do for you...

Her body slowly fell back. A sky filled with drifting snow was the last thing she saw.

ps ..😭😭😭